Fire-escape.



G. VIRTUE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 1, 1911.

1,052,773. PatentedFeb.11,1913.

1 0 3141 cooeo IZOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WSMINUTON. D. c.

U ITE STATES FIRE-ESCAPE.

Application filed June 1, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 630,631.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE VIRTUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Philadelphia, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire escapes and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a simple structure, easy to assemble and operate, and second, to maintain the escape in proper adjustment with reference to a building to which it is attached. These objects together with other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, I attain by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, although my invention may be embodied in a variety of other mechanical forms, the construction being illustrated by way of example.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a view showing a portion of a building and the fire escape in proper relative position. Fig. 2 is a view showing a portion of the pipe or tube illustrating one of the movable platforms and one of the fixed platforms in fixed position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents a tube, preferably made in sections, the sections being coupled together by the cou pling thimbles 2 or their equivalents. Within the tube 1 are located a number of wires 8, which wires are anchored at their bottom or lower ends and their top or upper ends connected to the building in any convenient and well known manner. Upon the tube 1 are mounted the movable platforms 4, and the fixed platforms 5, which platforms may be circular as shown or they may be of other forms as the form does not have any specific reference as to the present invention. Below the movable platforms 4 are located the springs 6, which springs are located around the tube 1 and their ends located against the bottom or underside of the movable platforms 4, and the top or upper side of the fixed platform 5 but as to the specific arrangement of the springs so far as their ends abutting against the movable and fixed platforms is immaterial as it is not absolutely necessary that the ends abut against the faces of the platforms as the purpose can be obtained without the specific contact of the ends of the springs being directly against the ends of the platforms. To the movable platforms 4 are attached the divided sleeves 7, which divided sleeves are for the purpose of being 7 but in order to prevent or regulate the descent the divided sleeves 7 are provided. When the movable platform has moved down to its lowest point the person steps upon the fixed platform 5 and releases the movable platform 4, and when said platform is released it is forced upward by the spring 6, until it assumes its normal position, the upward movement being stopped either by the full releasing of the tension of the spring or by reason of the upper end of the divided sleeve coming in contact with the proper coupling or collar 2.

For the purpose of preventing any accidents during the time a person is going down the fire escape the movable platforms 4 and the fixed platforms should be provided with suitable hand holds 8, which hand holds may be such as shown in the drawings, or they may be differently constructed.

It will be understood that by providing the divided sleeve 7 a handhold is provided for the person or persons descending or escaping from a burning building.

It will be understood that suitable railings should be provided but these railings form no specific part of the present invention.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is x 1. In a fire escape, the combination of a tube, means for holding said tube in proper relative position with reference to a'building, platforms slidably mounted upon the tubes, springs adapted to be compressed by the movement of the sliding platforms and platforms secured to the tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a fire escape of the class described, the combination of a tube, means for holding the tube in vertical position, movable platforms mounted upon the tube and fixed platforms carried by the tube and springs adapted to normally support the movable plat-- forms, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a fire escape of the class described, the combination of a tube, means for holding the tube in vertical position, movable platforms mounted upon the tube and fixed platforms carried by the tube and springs adapted to normally support the movable platforms, and the platforms provided With 1 hand holds, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a fire escape, a vertical tube, means for holding the tube in vertical position, a series of movable platforms and a series of fixed platforms, springs interposed between the fixed and movable platforms and means for frictionally holding the movable platforms against movement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE VIRTUE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. ANGEL, PARK REIsER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

